With slavery as a punishment for crime and segregate prisons, the slave culture continues - And the oppression and emotions felt by those affected were the inspiration for The Blues

Area of Mississippi between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. Because of it's proximity to the rivers, it was prime growing territory and as a result was where most of the cotton growing took place - and the largest concentration of slaves.

​Because of incomplete or non existent historical records, it is hard to say where exactly in this timeline The Blues as we know it was being played. There is also a lack of recordings to reference. (similar to secular music the early ages - nobody has the $$ to document)

The Blues: A Folk Music

What is Folk Music?

Music Passed down through generations

Not taught in school, or learned in any formal fashion

Unwritten songs with no composers

Learned by rote

Oral Tradition

Familial, or Communal

Generally not considered High Art - and not judged for it's aesthetic qulaities

Sometimes has Educational / Religious aspects , but many times just for fun or to pass time

How many of the above characteristics of Folk Art with carry over to Folk Music?

Folk Music in the Delta

Work Songs

Spirituals

Chants/Field Hollers

As shown in the video, these songs served a Functional Purpose

They were Raw, and Filled with emotion

Not meant to be a "song" or to be studied

Music that was a direct result of the CONDITION IN WHICH THE ARTIST WAS LIVING IN (i.e. The music was a product of the environment)

John and Alan Lomax

Up through the early 1900's, music of Black Americans in the South was largely unrecorded and undocumented. As it is a folk music there are very limited records. From the late 1930's to early 1940's, Alan and John Lomax Worked for the Library of Congress. It is at this time they travel to the Deep South in hopes of recording the most authentic versions these songs possible - going straight to the source. Check out the document below created by the Lomax's from one of his trips. Here is the link for the Corresponding Album for the catalog below.

Here's a video from one of Lomax's later trips to the south. The musician pictured is Leadbelly, a prolific figure in Early Blues History.

Blues and it's Folk Roots (i.e. Predecessors Work Songs/Chants/Hollers) are rooted in true, Genuine Oppression. The people singing were in real pain, and the Music was a necessity of going through that pain.

AUTHENTIC BLUES MUST REFLECT THOS EMOTIONS

VS.

Compare These Two Videos:-Do you believe John Mayer had the blues Everyday? How about compared to the prison Workers?

-Consider the line: " Nobody Loves me, Nobody seems to care"Is this an emotion that John Mayer truly feels? Compared to the workers? What if the workers sung his line? Would it mean the same thing? more impactful? WHY?? =Background, Life experience of the Performer

-What if John Mayer had to tell one of these guys that everyday he had to blues? What would the workers reaction be?

-Compared to these workers, is John Mayer qualified to say "everyday I have to blues?"

Fred Mcdowell

-Authentic?-Consider BackgroundWhat if John Mayer song this song? would it be as believable? WHY??

Would we BELIEVE that John Mayer ACTUALLY drank water out of a hollow log? Does that change the meaning of the song?

***Space Oddity**** What if David Bowie were ACTUALLY in a space ship? Would this change the meaning of the song?

Blues = The Artist has ACUTALLY LIVED THROUGH the experiences they are singing about

Late 1930's/Early 1940's - Lomax' 1st trip to south to record-----------------2006- John Mayer "Everyday I have to Blues"

Thanksgiving Assignment

ASSIGNMENT

Research 2 Different types of blues we have not talked about (no Country Blues, Delta Blues, stay away from Rhythm and Blues). Reference the Wiki List of Blues Styles/Genres

For each Style, Provide:

A description of that genre:-Wiki info-Who started it, Where did it start, why did they do it-Brief Comparison with Blues Predecessors

An important Artist within that genre (spearheading/groundbreaking/signifying of the genre) and the following information:-Why are they important-Background information that influenced their music

A recording by that artist and the following information:-Brief Background of the song-Give your song a score from 1-10 rating it's authenticity-Analyze - Provide an analysis. This analysis will serve as the defense for your rating, so focus on Authenticity. This will require you to point out Musical Observations, Observations on the message, and how the Background of the artist influenced the song.

The Great Migration - The Blues Evolves

Starting in the early 1900's, Many African Americans leave the south in search of better lives in cities in the north. Along with the people, goes the people's music: The Blues. It spreads from Its birthplace in the Delta, moving West to Louisiana and Texas, and North to Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas, and finally all the way North to Chicago and Detroit.As it spreads, each different community it becomes a part of puts it's own spin/interpretation on it. As a result, we haveand evolving form of music with different styles of blues popping up. Click here to check out the blues route.

Vaudeville Blues

Term Coined because this evolved from the blues involvement in Vaudeville shows (traveling variety acts)

Usually song by a woman

More refined musical form

Incorporates different instruments (or a band)

Content is almost always love/sex related

Kansas City Blues

Similar to Delta blues, but more refined

More Rhythm/steady feel

Cleaner Sounding

New Orleans

In New Orleans, Blues was Mixed with elements of jazz

Can be instrumental (no vocals)

More rigid musical form - Must be planned out so the band (multiple people rather than one) can stay together